CHARGE EDGE CYBERRAYS, 3-2, TO WIN HOME OPENER

Sunday, May 6, 2001

By Al Cohen
Philadelphia Charge Correspondent

Margret Olafsdottir and Michelle Demko scored 13 minutes apart in the second half as the Philadelphia Charge rallied for a 3-2 victory today over the Bay Area CyberRays in their home opener at Villanova Stadium. The Charge improved to 2-0-1 during the inaugural Women's United Soccer Association season and currently lead the league with seven standings points.

After Bay Area forward Sissi snapped a 1-1 halftime tie with a header in the 53rd minute of play, the Charge picked up the pressure and evened the score at 2-2 in the 66th minute. The play began with a scramble in front of the CyberRays net before Philadelphia's Jennifer Tietjen launched a line drive into a Bay Area defender. The ball deflected to Olafsdottir, who turned and beat Bay Area goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene to the near post.

Philadelphia's game-winning goal came in the 79th minute on Lorrie Fair's corner kick. The cross was sent to former University of North Carolina teammate Laurie Schwoy, who headed it towards the goal, where Demko was able to leap and flick it past Beene and a pair of CyberRays defenders.

Charge goalkeeper Saskia Webber, who was in the nets for last week's 0-0 tie in Atlanta, made nine saves to post her first win of the year. Philadelphia is joined by Atlanta (1-0-2) and New York (1-0-2) as the only undefeated teams in the WUSA, and currently leads the league with five total goals. Bay Area fell to 0-2-1.

Philadelphia captain Doris Fitschen made a run from her defender position for the first scoring opportunity of the game, a line drive from just beyond the penalty box that soared over the goal in the fourth minute.

The Charge took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute as Erin Martin received a throw-in from defender Jenny Benson. With her back to the goal, Martin chest-trapped the ball, turned and lofted it over Beene into the top right corner of the net. But Bay Area knotted the score a minute later when Julie Murray volleyed in a nice cross from Sissi.

The Charge return to action next Sunday, May 13 when they travel to face the New York Power at 6:00 p.m. Philadelphia's next home game is set for Thursday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. vs. the Atlanta Beat.

Scoring Summary:
PHI - Martin (Benson)32.
BAY - Murray (Sissi)33.
BAY - Sissi (Wagner)53.
PHI - Olafsdottir (Tietjen)66.
PHI - Demko (Schwoy, Fair)79.

CYBERRAYS - LaKeysia Beene, Thori Staples Bryan, Lisa Nanez, Carey Dorn, Theresa Wagner, Brandi Chastain, Amy Walsh, Ann Cook, Venus James, Sissi, Julie Murray (Megan Horvath, 73). TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Sissi 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Sissi 6); FOULS: 6 (Walsh 3); OFFSIDE: 5; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Beene 3.

CHARGE - Saskia Webber, Heather Mitts, Doris Fitschen, Jennifer Tietjen, Jenny Benson (Kalli Kamholz, 46), Michelle Demko, Liu Ailing (Laurie Schwoy, 62), Rebekah McDowell, Margret Olafsdottir (Deidre Enos, 76), Lorrie Fair, Erin Martin (Mandy Clemens, 58). TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Fitschen, Demko, Olafsdottir, Martin 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Demko, Martin 2); FOULS: 16 (Ailing, McDowell 3); OFFSIDE: 7; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: Webber 9; CAUTIONS: Martin 43, Kamholz 60.

Referee: Todd Perry; Referee's Assistants: Karalee Sutton & Kelly Lee Attendance: 11,092; Weather: Clear - 68 degrees